Solar Energy Facts.

Did you know that solar energy is an indirect source of fossil fuel ( like coal, natural gas, crude oil, etc)? Well, it is. That is a fact.

And, guess what? There are more facts to share.

You might have heard many things about solar energy but don’t know whether they are facts or mere myths.

No need to worry!

On this post, you will learn about:

• Solar energy
• 30 Interesting facts about solar energy
• A fun fact about the unit of frequency, Hertz

A simple explanation of solar energy

Solar energy is simply a form of energy that is generated from the sun. It is a sort of electromagnetic radiation. It can be used for heating, generating electricity, in transportation and also by plants to aid photosynthesis.

Learn more about solar energy…

Solar energy facts based on nature

Fact 1

It is natural: Solar energy is a natural energy that is emitted from the sun. They travel over 9 million miles from the sun to the earth.

The solar energy that hits the earth is majorly infrared, ultraviolet and visible rays. It is not caused by any effort of humankind but only by nature.

Fact 2

It is Renewable: Solar energy is renewable. Day-after day, the sun keeps radiating this energy.

Sometimes, you feel like you aren’t getting any of it. But after a little while, you see it shining down the sky.

Fact 3

Non-monopolistic: solar energy cannot be monopolised. The sun is so big enough that it radiates solar energy all over the earth’s surface.

So, no human can hoard or claim it as a possession. It can’t be controlled by any humankind as no one has exclusive rights to it.

Fact 4

It is the indirect source of fossil fuels: Fossil fuels come from a long-time anaerobic decomposition of plants. Those plants underwent photosynthesis through the use of solar energy. So, solar energy is indirectly the source of fossil fuels.

Fact 5

Solar energy is different from solar power: Generally, energy and power are different. The same goes for solar energy and power. Solar energy is simply energy from the sun while solar power is the amount of solar energy per unit time.  

Fact 6

It is an indirect source of Biomass: Biomass is derived from living things like plants and animals. Through photosynthesis, plants make use of solar energy to make food for themselves. And animals live on the produce of plants.

Fact 7

It is an indirect source of wind energy: Wind energy is derived from wind. And the wind is a result of the difference in air pressure across locations on earth. This difference in air pressure is caused by the sun’s uneven heating of the earth’s surface.

So, solar energy indirectly produces wind energy. This is why wind energy is sometimes referred to as a form of solar energy.

Fact 8

The direct solar energy from the sun is different from the one that reaches the earth: Solar energy travels at a high frequency from the sun, miles away, to the earth’s surface. During the travel, it undergoes diffusion, reflection and passes through various air masses.

On getting to the earth’s surface, its frequency reduces to a level that what is left are light rays (visible light), infrared, ultraviolet rays, and some other low-frequency electromagnetic rays.

Solar energy facts based on History

Fact 9

Solar energy is nothing new: With the recent buzz about solar energy, you might think it is just getting discovered. No! It has been in use in the past for cooking, drying clothes, making fires and so much more.

It is only in recent years that more attention has been given to it. This is because of its proving potentials to provide a lot more value (like powering our homes)

Fact 10

Alexander Edmond Becquerel Discovery: In 1839, a French Physicist, Alexander Edmond Becquerel was credited to have discovered the photovoltaic effect.

This photovoltaic effect is what paved the way for the harnessing of solar energy to produce electricity.

It is the principle behind how the solar photovoltaic cells on solar panels convert solar energy to electricity. it shows the relationship between light and electronic properties of materials.

Fact 11

Charles Fritts invention: In 1883, Charles Fritt was credited to have made the first working selenium photocells. He later went on to install the world’s first rooftop solar array (using the selenium photocells) in 1884 in New York City.

Fact 12

Photoelectric Effect discovery: A German physicist, Heinrich Rudolf Hertz discovered the photoelectric effect in 1887. He observed that when a charged material is exposed to solar energy, the charges get excited more willingly.

Fun fact: Hertz is the Standard International (SI) unit of frequency. And it is named after the German physicist, Heinrich Rudolf Hertz.

Note: The photoelectric effect and Photovoltaic effect are not the same but are closely related. They both involve the release of electrons from a material but with a difference:

In the Photoelectric effect, electrons are released out of the material when electromagnetic radiation falls on it while in the Photovoltaic effect, the released electron remains within the material.

Fact 13

Albert Einstein’s Nobel prize: In 1921, Albert Einstein was awarded a Nobel prize in Physics for his work on Photoelectric effect. His work was an expansion on the ‘photoelectric effect’ discovered by Heinrich Rudolf Hertz.

Fact 14

First practical silicon solar cells: In 1954, the first practical silicon solar cells were invented by Bell Laboratory. The cells were having an efficiency of about 6%.

Fact 15

Solar cell production: In 1977, the world’s production of solar cells went beyond 500KW.

Solar energy facts based on usage

Fact 16

Solar energy is the most widely used renewable energy.

Fact 17

It is used by plants: Solar energy is a requirement for photosynthesis to take place. During photosynthesis, plants convert solar energy into chemical energy. Plants later use the chemical energy for its activities

Fact 18

Solar energy is the indirect source of oxygen on earth: Plants convert solar energy into chemical energy. This chemical energy synthesises with carbon dioxide and water to produce oxygen. Plants hold on to a little of the produced oxygen while it releases the rest into the air.

Fact 19

Domestic use: Solar energy can be used for domestic purposes like drying clothes, cooking, heating, etc.

Fact 20

Solar energy can be used to generate electricity: Through the use of solar panels, solar energy can be converted into electricity.

Fact 21

Most solar panels in the market come with 25 years of warranty.

Fact 22

Solar panels do not need to be placed under direct sunlight to produce electricity: When a solar panel is placed directly under sunlight, it receives much solar energy (i.e visible light, infrared and ultraviolet rays).

The visible light is the most important of the three in generating electricity.

So, when the solar panel isn’t placed under direct sunlight, but in a place where there is visible light reflecting on the panel, it will generate electricity. But this will generate less electricity compared to if it were placed directly under sunlight.

Fact 23

Solar power systems require little or no maintenance: Solar power systems convert solar energy to electricity. They do not have moving parts. Thus, no friction issues.

Fact 24

The available solar panels have low efficiency: The solar panels that are available in the market are less efficient. That is, when solar energy falls on the solar panels, most of the energy is not converted to electricity. They are wasted.

However, year after year, solar panels with higher efficiency are produced.

Solar energy facts based on cost and Availability

Fact 25

It is Inexhaustible: It is not just renewable but also inexhaustible. There is no condition that will lead to the exhaustion of solar energy. Well, at least there is no known one yet.

Fact 26

It is Free: When the sun is shining, all you need to use solar energy is to go out there. No payments; no strings attached; no conditions.

Fact 27

Solar energy is the most abundant energy on earth.

Fact 28

The cost of solar power systems keeps declining every year: In the past decade, the price of installing solar power systems has been dropping.  It has been projected that the cost of solar will drop another 25% by 2022

Solar energy facts based on environmental friendliness

Fact 29

A solar power system is noiseless: The cause of noise in power systems is its moving parts. Solar power systems need solar energy to generate electricity. The power systems have no moving parts. Thus, they do not generate noise.

Fact 30

It is clean: Solar energy is one of the most environmentally friendly energy resources. It does not create any sort of pollution in the environment.